Locomotive storm window



1942 2 Sheets-Shet 2 R. WI KOFF I LOCOMOTIVE STORM WINDOW 'Filed 001:. 31

yllllllllllllfiiiifii Jul 18, 1.944.

INVENTOR. ga 7772'0/2;

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Patented July 18, 1944 UNITED P STATES PATENT- fzorrlcs v v I 2,353,863 j LocoMo'riva s'roRM' WINDOW Ralph Wikof f, ;Indianapolis, Ind. v Application October. 31, 1942, Serial No. 464,120-

.10 Claims, (01. 20549 The present invention relates to means 'for protecting an engineman against the weather,

while still permitting him to project his head laterally outward beyond'the'side wall of a locomotive cab to obtain a better view either forwardly or rearwardly. 'More particularly, the primary object ofthe present invention is to provide-what is known in the art as a storm,window, which will protect the engineman under all circumstances; which will be extremely inexpensive to install and maintain; which will in no way interfere with standard installations on a locomotive; which is so constructed as'to be readily adjustable to: projected position or to flush position, in which projected position it will in no way interfere with the operation of the locomotive in crowded yards or road or main line service, even with extreme'- ly narrowclearances; and which will, in addition to all these things, provide really effective pro-' tection against the Weather when in projected position.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. f 1 f 1 To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in.

the forms illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, attention being calledto the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construc-. tionsillustrated and'described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated;

I Fig. 1 is an isometrical view, taken from in side a locomotive cab, and showing my improved storm window in position to close the standard cab window opening; a

Fig.2 is atransverse section through the installation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa fragmental elevation of a modified.

detail, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation taken from outside the cab;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental isometric view of brac-' ing means for my window frame which means,

will be used inv connection with a wood frame;

Fig. 6'is a fragmental end elevation of a portion of my window;unit, a latch means being.

shown in section;

Fig. .7 is a fragmental transverse sectionthrough amodified form of installation;

1; Fig. 8 is a fragmental bottom plan of 'a-portion of the installation of Fig. '7;

- Fig. 9 is a fragmental horizontal section, show- 6. ,Preferably, ,the mating surfaces as and as or:

ing a detail of the construction;

. Fig. 10'is a fragmental transverse'section showing a-modified detail;

Fig. 11 is a horizontalsection through a double window installation;

I Fig. 12- is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 13 is a reduced transverse section through a modified; form of window unit; and i Fig. 14 is a fragmental horizontal section through the unit of Fig. 13.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, it will be seen that I have indicated, more or less diagrammatically, a. portion of the side wall 20 of a. locomoive cabg, said wall being formed with the usual window opening 2i bounded, adjacent its upper and lower edges, by slide rails 22 in which is usually mounted a slidable' window closure. According to the present invention, I'substitute for that, standard closure-a compound unit comprising a frame, indicated generally by vthe reference numeral 23, slidably mounted in the rails 22,'and a panel, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 24, removably mounted, in the frame 23. When in the positions illustrated in Figil, the frame 23 and panel 24 cooperate to close the window opening 2|.

Asillustrated, the frame "23' comprises substantially-parallel uprights 25 and 26 joined at their upper and lower extremities respectively by crossvbars 2l-andw28. I The panel 24 similarly comprises substantially parallel uprights 29 and 30 joined at their. upper and lower extremities by cross bars 3! and 32. The panel 24 may preferably comprise also intermediate parts 33 supporting the various transparent panes of the panel. a

While the unitthus fardescribed may,'-of course, be initially so constructed, it will be readily perceivable that such a'u'nit may be produced by cutting a standard locomotive cab window; and my invention includes the idea of thus producing the described unit.,-*-Particularly when the unit is made of wood, I believefthat' it will be desirable to strengthen the corners of the frame 23; and such strengthening may preferably be accomplished by rabbeting the uprights and cross barsas'at 34and 35, andsetting thereinto angle straps 36, securing said straps'in place by screws S'Lorsimilar fastening means. Obviously, the 'rabbets 34 and 35 will be of such a depth that, when the preferably metal straps are secured in place, the outer surfaces of said straps will lie flush "Wlth the frame elements.

adjacent'surfaces of the the frame and panel will be beveled in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Such beveling improves the weather tightness of the unit and facilitates operation thereof. It will be obvious that, when the unit is produced by cutting a standard window unit, the material removed by the cutting instrument will, unless compensation is provided, cause the panel to be offset inwardly from the plane of the frame when the panel is moved into weather tight relationship with the frame. To compensate; for the removal of such material, then, I preferably apply a strip of felt, Perma Tite, or other similar material, as at 40, to one or both of the uprights and cross bars of the frame or the panel.

The lower cross bar 32 of the panel one or more pins 4| which are preferably sharp- 24 carries ened at their outer ends, or bullet shaped." 1

Preferably, these pins may be metal projections upon metal plates 42 suitably secured to the beveled surface of the bar 32. The lower cross bar 28 of the frame 23 is provided with suitable sockets 43 for the reception of the pins 4| and these sockets may preferably be formed in metal plates 44 suitably secured to the beveled surface of the bar 28. Obviously, the plates 42 and 44 will be countersunk in the surfaces'to which they are secured.

Suitable means should be provided for securingthe upper edge of the panel against accidental movement with respect to the upper edge of the frame, when the panel is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and one form of such means is illustrated in Fig. 6. The upper cross bar 3| of the panel 24 may carry a plate 45 formed with a part spherical socket 46; while the cooperating surface of the cross bar 21 of the frame 23 will carry a plate 41 formed to provide a well 48 in which is received a spring 49 bearing against a ball 50, somewhat less than a hemispherical portion of said ball being projectible outwardly beyond the mouth of the well 48 under the influence of the spring 49. Obviously, when the parts are in the positions. illustrated in Fig. 6, the ball 59 will resiliently resist any outward movement.

of the element 3|. 1

Suitable handles 5| and 52 may be secured at desired points to the inner surface of the panel 24.

A rod 53 is secured to the inner surface of the upright 29, and a corresponding rod 54 is secured to the inner surface of the upright 30. A bracket 55, secured to the inner surface of the lower portion of the upright 'of the frame 23, forms a pivotal mounting for one end of a link 56, the

opposite end of said link being pivotally associated with a sleeve 51 slidably mounted upon the rod 53. Similarly, a-bracket 58, secured to the lower portion of the inner surface of the upright 26, forms a pivotal mounting for one end of a correspondinglink 59,- the opposite end of which is pivotally associated with a sleeve 60 slidably mounted on the rod 54.

An arm rest 6| projects laterally outward from the plane of the frame 23, providing a horizontal surface substantially in the plane of the lower cross bar 28 of the frame 23. Such an arm rest is standard on many locomotives; but if no such arm rest is present in a given installation, other means will be provided for presenting such a horizontal surface. Sockets 62, spaced for registration with the pins 4|, are provided in such substantially horizontal surface; and said sockets entirely through I the ,7 member 6|, so thatzwaterwill notigather therein, 75'

will preferably be extended It will be seen that said sockets 62 are spaced laterally outward from the plane of the frame 23; and it will be clear, from inspection of Figs. 1 and 2, that the pins 4| are selectively engageable in the sockets 43 or in the sockets 62. To shift the panel 24 from the full line position of Fig. 2 to the dotted line position thereof, the upper edge of the panel is pushed outwardly, overcoming the tendency of the ball 50, and, after said upper edge of the panel has cleared the opening 2|, the panel will be lifted to remove the pins 4| from the sockets 43. The panel may now be bodily removed outwardly, the links 56 and 59 swinging about their pivotal axes, to bring the pins 4|into registry with, and then enter them in, the sockets 62. The links 56 and 59 will now cooperate with the pins 4|, engaging in the sock-- ets- 62, to hold the panel 24 in its new position.

,Ropes, chains or cables suitably secured to the frame and to the panel may be substituted for the linkage above described without departing from my invention; but I now believe the linkage arrangement to be preferable.

Visors, or Windshields, generally of the char acter illustrated at 63, are standardly mounted upon the external walls of locomotive cabs adjacent the leading edge of the window opening, and sometimes also adjacent the trailing edge thereof. According to my present invention, such a visor will be mounted adjacent the trailing edge as well as the leading edge of the window; and said visors will cooperate with the leading and trailing edges of the panel, when the panel isin the dotted line position of Fig. 2, to enclose the space between the panel and the plane of the frame 23. Also, it is standard practice to provide an awning 64 secured to the outer wall of the cab above the upper edge of the window opening. The free edge of such awning carries a bar, the leading and trailing edges of which are secured to links 65; and it will be clear that the free edge of the awning may be thrown over the upper edges of the visors and the panel to cooperate therewith to form a roof for the space between the panel and the plane of the frame 23.

The visors, of course, may, if desired, be provided with shiftable panes which may be opened to provide visibility in case of snow or the like.

It is essential that, in case of any accident-the is essential to provide means for throwing the panel 24 quickly out of obstructing relation to the window opening 2| and the present invention is so designed as to permit that immediate clearing of the window opening. Looking at Fig. 2, it will be seen that the panel may be quickly lifted to disengage the pins 4| from the sockets 62, the lower end of the panel may thereupon be moved slightly outwardly; and if the panel is then re-- leased, it will immediately drop, under the effect of gravity, to the dash-dot'line position of Fig. 2, the links 56 and 59 swinging down into engagement with the arm rest 6 I, and the rods53and 54 then: sliding through the sleeves 51 and 60 until the panel 24 reaches the dash-dot position, in which the window opening is entirely clear. This operation can be completed in about two seconds, thus providing a high factor of safety for the engineers.

-In Fig. 3 is illustrated a slightly different association between thelinksand. the sleeves-.movably.

positio'n,'I. preferably place'a wedge plate 82 between the bracket portion 8| and the cab wall 20,

connecting the panel to the frame. According to the form of Fig. 3, the links (of which only 59' is illustrated) have their bodies disposed in the planes of the rods with which they are associated. The sleeve, 60' mounted upon the rod 54 is, in this form of the invention, provided with a pair of parallel, projecting ears 66 between which is pivotally' pinned the flattened end 61 of the link 59'.

It will be seen that, in the form of the invention illustrated inFig. 2, the panel, in its projected position,.l'eans outwardly at its upper edge. If desired, the width of the arm rest 6| may be extended so that the lower edge of the panel 24 may be moved out to a position vertically beneath the position of its upper edge. Because of minimum clearances in engine house door Openings; however, that projection of the arm rest must be withdrawable; and, in Fig. 7, I have illustrated oneform of arrangement which I consider to be desirable.

According to that form of the invention, two or more hinge leaves 10 are secured to the under surface of the arm rest 6|, and mating hinge leaves H are pivoted thereto as at 12. It is to be noted that the pivotal point 12 is spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the arm rest 6|. The leaves H carry an extension plate 13. A paddle shaped brace or latch I4, having a finger piece 15, ispivotally mounted upon the under surface of the leaf 13, and is swingable between the solid line position of Fig. 7 and the dotted line position thereof. Obviously, in the solid line position, the latch 14 will hold the leaf 13 in the projected position of Figs. 7 and .8; but when the latch I4, manipulated by reaching over the outer edge of the leaf I3,- is swung to the dotted line position of Fig. 8, gravity will swing the leaf 13 to the dotted line position of Fig. 7, in which the entire body of theaextension is spaced inwardly from the outer edge of thearm rest 6|.

Theleaf'13 is formed to provide sockets 16, like the sockets 62, adapted to'receive the pins 4|.

In this form of the invention, it is desirable to brace the panel 24 against tilting inwardly; and one means for accomplishing that bracing is illustrated in Fig. 7. According to Fig. 7, the lower portion of the rod 54is curved outwardly, as at 11; so that, as the sleeve 18 slides past the said curved portion ll, it is resisted by the natural resiliency :of themetal of which the rod 54' is formed.. That resistance is not sufficient, hW-. ever,..to impede materially the tendency of the panel 24, when released from the support of the arm rest, to drop into safety position.

Standard installations of visors 63 are customarily such that the visors are adapted to be resiliently held in any one of three positions, two of which are parallel to the cab wall and the third of which is perpendicular to the cab wall.v Since the, leading edge of the panel 24 is necessarily spaced slightly rearwardly from the leading edge of the window opening, while the trailing edge of the panel is spaced somewhat forwardly from the trailing. edge. of the window opening, it will, be obvious that thevisors, spaced respectively slightly in front-of the leading edge and slightly behind the'trailing edge of the window, would not actually contact. the leading and trailing edges of the panel, when said visors are perpendicular to the,

cab wall. Each visor is. readily removably supported upon a bracket 88 having a portion 8| normally secured tothe cab wall. To cure this difilculty,-and to causeeach visor to engage theadja:

centpanel, edge when. the panel is in projected thus shifting'the whole visor unit slightly about a vertical axis... Y 1 l r According .to' commercial practice, these visors are of .various'widths, some being as narrow as six inches; while others. are as 'wide as'eight inches. Obviously, to shift the panel 24 less than six incheslaterallyoutwardwould not provide a suitable space'topermit the engineman to get a satisfactory view of the track aheadof or behind the engine. Therefore, when undesirably narrow visors are found in a given installation, they will preferably: be replaced. by wider visors; but, if that cannot be arranged, then the widths of these narrow visors should be-increased by attachingto their-outer edges plates of 'asuitable material to build the visors out sufficiently to cooperate with the panel 24 in its projected position. 1

Most of the commercialavisors, furthermore, arebeveled at their upper outer corners, in the manner best illustrated in Figs; 2 and 10. It will be desirable, atzleast in some instances, to

apply plates of suitable shapes to the edges of these beveled portions to extend the projection of the visors to cooperate properly with the panels associated therewith.

While, as has been said, the type of awning 64 most universally in useis supported upon the outer. wall of the cab, it may :be desirable, in some instances, to support an Zawning 83 upon the inner wall of the-cab, or upon the window frame or slide rail.. In Fig. 10, I have illustrated an awning 83 carried by a roller 84 of the wound spring .type supported inside the cab. Such an awning "may be drawn outwardly through the windowopening, and over the upper edgesof thevisors and the panel. It will preferably carry a'rod 85 in its free edge, weighting that edge to hold'the same in place; and/or the awning 83 may be buttoned, by snap fasteners or the like, to the upper'portion of the panel 24. The awning 83 may be so designed and proportioned that, as it is drawn out through the window opening ..2l,its theretofore folded lateral edges will open out to be extended over the upper edges of the visors;-and those awning edges may then bebuttoned to theup-per edges of the-visors.

, Some locomotive cabs are provided with double shiftable windows. In those instances, the window opening 2| may benormally closed by two units, one comprising a frame 23 and-panel 24 slidable in guidesSILand the other comprising a: frame 93 anda panel 94 slidable in guides 9|, thexleading edge ofone unit overlapping,"

, structthe frame 93 and panel 94thatthere shall beno projections inwardlyubeyond the normal surfaces thereof; I

Therefore-to the inner surface of eachof the -Prights95 and 96 of the frame 93 there is se-1 cureda ,-plate 91, preferablyfonned of metal,

and carrying a headed pin98. .Since the construction of the two uprightsis precisely allochiral, only oneis illustrated and describedin] detail. The ,plateBl is socountersunkin the l f.. l-l f o e upright 19.5 that the, outer faces of the uprightsto which theyaie secured.

Each .link 99 is formed, adjacent; its end: remote from that mounted upon the pin, 98,'with a longitudinally extended slot I within which is'engaged the pin I04. It will beobvious that the operationof the panel 94 is closely similar to the operation of the panel 24; but that the particular illustrated meansfor limiting relative movement betweenthe panel 94. and. its frame 93 is so. constructed that nothing projectsibeyond the normal inner surface of theclosure unit.

One or more countersunk handle rings I06 may be provided on the inner surface ofthe panel 94 for operating the same.

In an installation of this character, a visor I01, similar to the visors B3,.is mounted on the cab wall immediately in front of the leading edge of the window opening 2|, and avisor I09 is similarly mounted immediately adjacent the trailing edge of said opening. An intermediate visor I08, cooperable with either of the panels 24 or 04 is carried upon the upright 95 of the frame 03, being directly supported upon a block H0 secured to said upright and so proportioned and constructed as to locate the pivotal axis of the visor I08 in the common plane with the pivotal axes of the visors I0"! and I09.

In Fig. 13, I have illustrated .a means for blocking the shiftable panel in projected position. According to that illustration, a latch,

III, preferably formed of resilient metal, may be pivoted at II2 on the frame of one or both of the visors to swing about a horizontal axis,

said latch being provided at its outer end with a tongue II3 projecting towardithe center of the panel. Obviously, after the .panel has been shifted to its projected position, the latch III may be swung down to engageits tongue II3 against the inner surface of the panel to prevent inward movementof the panel. The latch III will preferably be so constructed as to bear resiliently and frictionally against the surface of the visor tov which it is pivoted, in such a manner that it will remain in any position of adjustment about its pivot.

Obviously, this blocking means illustrated in Fig. 13 can be associated, if -desired,.with the organization of any one of. the other figures of the present disclosure. 1 a

, I claim as my invention:v

1. Astorm window assembly for a'locomotive cab, comprising'a visor having a transparent portion andprojecting laterally outwardly from the plane of the side wall of such cab adjacent the leading edge of thecab window opening, and

a movable closure element for such opening, saidand supporting the lower edge of saidclosure element when the latter is in its outer position, linkage means cooperating with said closure to limit lateral movement thereof when said closure is supported on said last-.named means, and co One end of a link.99 is pivotally.

named .means being disengageable by upward movement of said closure with respect to said supporting .means, and said closure being held against upward movement by gravity only.

2. In a storm window for a locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel remcvably mounted in said frame, cooperative means provided on said panel and on said: frame for holding said .panel, at times, in place within said frame, and means carried by said cab and spaced laterally outwardly from the plane of said frame and cooperative, at times, with said last-named means on said panel, for supporting said panel in a position spaced laterally outwardly from the plane of said frame.

3. In a storm window for a locomotive ca b, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel removably mounted in said frame, cooperative means provided on said panel and on said frame for holding said panel, at times, in place within said frame, said last-named means including at least one socket formed at the lower portion of one of said closure elements and at least one pin carried on the lower portion of the other of said closure elements and receivable in said socket, and means projecting laterally outward from the plane of said frame and formed to provide a surface substantially at the level of the lower portion of said frame, said surface being provided with means cooperative with the holding means of said panel for supporting'said panel, at times, in a position spaced laterally outward from the plane of said frame.

4. In a storm window for a, locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel removably mounted in said frame, c0- operative means provided on said panel and on said frame for holding said panel, at times, in place within said frame, said last-named means including aplurality of substantially upwardlyopening sockets in the bottom member of said frame, a plurality of substantially downwardly projecting pins. carried at the bottom edge of said panel and receivable, at times, in said sockets, and an arm rest projecting laterally outward from the plane of said frame and substantially in the plane of said lower portion of said frame, said arm rest being formed with a plurality of substantially upwardly-opening sockets spaced laterally outward fromlthe plane of said frame and'adapted, at times, to receive said pins to support said panel in a laterally outwardly spaced position. v

5. In a" storm window-for a locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel removabiy mounted in said frame, cooperative means provided on said panel and on said frame for holding said panel, at times, in placewithin said frame, said last-named means including a. plurality of substantially upwardlyopeningsockets in the bottom member of said frame, a plurality of substantially downwardly. projecting pins carried at the bottom edge of saidpanel-andreceivable, at times, in said sockets, latch means associated with the upper portions of s'aid frame andpanel for holding the upper edge-of said panel at times in cooperative relation with the upper portion of said frame, and an arm rest projecting laterally outward from the plane of said frame and substantially in the plane of said lower .portion of said frame, said arm rest being formed with a plurality of substantially upwardly-opening sockets spaced laterally outward from the plane of said frame and adapted, at times, to receive said pins to support said panel in a laterally outwardly spaced position. v 6. In a storm window for a locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel removably mounted in said frame, an arm rest associated with said frame and provided with a portion spaced laterally outward from the plane of said frame, means associated withsaid panel and selectively engageable with said frame, or with said arm rest in a plane laterally spaced outwardly from said frame, to support said panel selectively in frame-closing position or spaced from the plane of said frame, and means movably connected with said frame and with said panel and limiting relativemovement thereof.

7. In a storm window for a locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel removably mounted in said frame and supported by said frame when in frame-closing position, an arm rest associated with said frame and projecting laterally outward from the plane of said frame for supporting said panel when said panel is spaced outwardly from the plane of said frame, and means limiting relative movement of said panel and frame, said last-named means being pivotally connected with one of saidrelatively-movable members and being pivotally and slidably connected with the other thereof, whereby said panel, at times, may be dropped into a position entirely below said frame without being entirely disconnected from said frame.

8. In a storm window for a locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel removably mounted in said frame, an arm rest associated with said frame and providing means spaced laterally outward from the plane of said frame, means associated with said panel and selectively engageable with said frame, or with said arm rest in a plane laterally spaced outwardly from said frame, to support said panel selectively in frame-closing position or spaced from the plane of said frame, and means limiting relativemovement of said panel and frame, said last-named means being pivotally connected with said frame and being pivotally and slidably connected with said panel, whereby said panel, at times, may be dropped into a position entirely below said frame without being entirely disconnected from said frame.

9.'In a storm window for a locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel mounted in said frame, an arm rest associated with said frame, means for selectively associating the lower edge of said panel with said frame in the plane of said frame or with said arm rest in a position spaced laterally outwardly from said plane, said panel being, in either position, supported on said element with which it is associated, substantially parallel guide elements "carried adjacent the leading and trailing edges of the inner surface of said panel, slide elements sleeved on said guide elements, and a link for each of said slide elements and having one end pivoted thereon, the other end of each of said links being pivotally mounted on the adjacent edge of said frame.

10. In a storm window for a locomotive cab, a closure for a cab window opening, said closure comprising a frame mounted in said opening and a panel mounted in said frame, an arm rest associated with said frame, means for selectively associating the lower edge of said panel with said frame in the plane of said frame or with said arm rest in a position spaced laterally outwardly from said plane, said panel being, in either position, supported on said element with which it is associated, a link having one end pivoted to the inner surface of one upright of said frame, a second link having one end pivoted to the inner surface of the other upright of said frame, each of said links being formed, adjacent its opposite end, with a longitudinally-extending slot, and means projecting outwardly from each of the lateral surfaces of said panel, each of said means being guidingly received in the slot of one of said links.

RALPH WIKOFF. 

